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Two of the heads of Macau's gaming concessionaires said that the Singapore's Integrated Resort project will not affect Macau.

The CEO of the SJM, Stanley Ho, said that his company is “not interested” in Singapore's casino project “at the first place”, and did not believe that the island state's move will affect both his company and Macau itself.

He expressed confidence in Macau's future development.

Chief Operating Officer of Venetian Macau, Frank McFadden, said that his company has consistently reinvest in Macau using profits made there, and all investment projects are on the course of completion according to plan.

Its victory over Singapore's bid does not affect its projects in Macau, he said.

The four arrested in suspicion with robbery of an underground private bank a few days ago were remanded in custody, pending for further hearings.

The Public Prosecutor commissioned investigations immediately after the case was forwarded by the Judiciary Police.

The four arrested were remanded in custody after “strong evidence” suggesting that they were involved in the robbery, which resulted in the loss of HKD 4.60 million.

Another suspect is currently wanted by the Police.

Police also uncovered an electric gun and nine marijuanas during the arrest action.

A separate case of loan shark was also uncovered during the Police action, in which a serving officer release loans to colleagues. IOUs and copies of identity documents were found at the scene. The officer concerned is currently under investigation by the Public Prosecutor, in suspicion with criminal windfalls.

Macau's GDP growth during the first quarter of this year stands at 18.8%, much better than expected.

Both spending made by visitors and consumers increased during the period at 19.9%, and increases were also recorded in investment projects and exports.

Academics told Jornal Va Kio that the stronger economy than expected is due to the growth in exports, when EU and US markets have restricted the export quota of mainland Chinese products, which made Macau manufacturers to export them via Macau.

However, such boost in exports will only be a short-term phenomenon, and the force to move Macau's economy forward is still the gaming and tourism sectors.

They also told the newspaper that Macau's economy should achieve a healthy and balanced growth, and that the quality of economic development should be pursued.

A summary of speeches made by legislators at yesteray's Legislative Assembly plenary session (30 May):

Chan Chak Mo (³¯¿AªZ) and Ieong Tou Hong (·¨¹D¦J) appealed to the Government to promote environmental protection and the sustainable development of Macau's economy and tourism.

Tsui Wai Kwan (®}°¶©[) and Chui Sai Cheong (±Z¥@©÷) talked about the effects of the May Day demonstration, saying that although some demonstrators' behaviour were unwise, “betrayed their integrity” and disrupted public order, it nevertheless reflected the desire of part of the local workforce. The positive communications between the Government, the employers and employees afterwards show that the demonstration does bring some positive effects.

Leong Heng Teng (±ç¼y®x) pointed out that with increasing wealth, the Government should “feed back” the society by increasing training and construction to enhance the competitiveness of the society, particularly releasing “rent subsidies” and support the disabled community through equipment support.

Kou Hoi In (°ª¶}½å), Cheang Chi Keong (¾G§Ó±j) and Ho Teng Iat (¶P©w¤@) pointed out that although Macau's gaming sector has achieved impressive developments, the deep core problems concering the economic structure, unemployment, and the exclusion of small and medium-sized enterprises required the Government's attention. They suggested for policies to help these enterprises to adopt and enhance their competitiveness, and to create relative conditions and space so that they are able to enjoy better business environment.

Kwan Tsui Hang (Ãö»A§ö) pointed out a legal regime to regulate civil servants to work at private firms once retired should be established.

Iong Veng Ian (®e¥Ã®¦) appealed to the Government, the community and parents to pay attention to young people betting on football, and should guide them to recognise the damage gambling can bring them. She suggested the Government to send more invetigators during the World Cup period to prevent teenagers rom participating in football betting.

Ng Choi Kun (§d¦bÅv) suggested an establishment of a recruitment and promotion system for civil servants based on meits, and a management mechanism that fits the development and needs of Macau.

Josˆm Pereira Coutinho pointed out that the Government has not yet set up an agency to protect privacy. According to existing regulation, usage of information for purposes out of that when collected and credit information require prior authorisation by the Administration.

Au Kam San (°ÏÀA·s) demanded the Government to establish a clear non-resident workers policy as soon as possible to ensure the rights of local workers to employment and the space of survival for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Ng Kuok Cheong (§d°ê©÷) reminded the Government to organise the existing Administrative Regulations where there are lack of particular legal basis, following the ruling by the Court of Second Instance the illegality of the Administrative Regulation Prohibiting Illegal Work.

A Macau-based investment firm in East Timor has appealed to the public to give assistance to relieve the recent crisis.

A taskforce was formed with members included Isabel Morais, from the Inter-University Institute of Macau, lawyers Francisco Nicolau and Paulo Remedios, and Lourenco Oliveira, of a petroleum firm.

Food, sheets, cooking utilsils, daily utilities and medications are particularly wanted. Residents can deposit them at the Car Park of the Portuguese Consulate-General at Rua de Pedro Nolasco da Silva, the office of the Portuguese School of Macau at Avenida do Infante Henrique, and the Macau Civil Servants' Association (ATFPM) at Avenida da Amizade.

Cash donations are also welcome, and they should be deposited at the ATFPM office aforementioned.

Residents can call 786684 and 595512 for further inquiries.

The collection campaign will last until 2 June.

The taskforce has applied to the Macau Government to send a chartered plane to deliver these materials to Dili, and the Macau Red Cross has been contacted for further assistance.

Source: Macao Daily News

A porcelain vase dated back to Ming Dynasty was donated by Steve Wynn to the Macau Museum.

The vase was won by Wynn in an auction at HKD 78 million, the highest record for auctions of similar vases in the world.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau welcomed Wynn's decision, saying that this fully demonstrates the support of Wynn Macau to the Macau Musuem, and allowing more local residents and visitors to see the vase through the Museum.

It welcomed people from all walks to life to donate materials related to the history and culture of Macau.

Meanwhile, the Bureau will communicate with experts to formulate measures of security and protection of the antique before the piece is to be exhibited.

The Macao Daily News reported that Wynn Macau has contacted the Macau Museum two weeks ago about the matter. Wynn Macau personnel contacted the Museum again at noon yesterday (30 May).

Steve Wynn told reporters that he wished to present the vase as a gift to China, so that the residents and the Chinese are able to see this fine artistic product.

The Secretary for Security, Cheong Kuoc Va (±i°êµØ), has ordered a full internal investigation to understand whether disciplinary forces members are involved in gambling or in debt.

He expressed deep concern over the recent arrest of a serving and two retired police officers over a robbery in which nearly MOP 5 million in cash were taken away.

He told reporters of the local media that gambling among police officers was not as common as before Reunification, and the number of cases involving debts or loan sharks are “relatively less”.

However, he pledged to enhance on-the-job training and to investigate the qualities and background of new officers.

Internal disciplinay investigations will be conducted in parallel with the Prosecturo's criminal investigations, he said.

Meanwhile, Lei Sio Peng (§õ¤p¥­), Acting Commander-in-Chief of the Public Security Police, appealed to officers that they could apply for loans at PSP's Welfare Club if they face financial difficulties.

In 2005, the Club has released a total of MOP 12 million of loans.

Lei believed that the robbery was only a behaviour of a tiny portion of individuals, and did not represent the majority of police officers.

He refused to further comment on the matter, for it is under investigation.

Six Macau residents have contact the mainland Chinese Embassy in East Timor amidst recent instabilities in the country.

Meanwhile, the mainland Chinese authorities have sent a chartered flight to retreat nations from East Timor, and the flight have left yesterday (29 May).

The Macau Government has not yet received any calls for assistance among Macau residents.

The Macau Government appealed to residents to contact the mainland Chinese Embassy in East Timor or contact the Public Security Police or the Identification Bureau for emergencies:

Mainland Chinese Embassy in East Timor:
Rua Governador Serpa Rosa,
Farol,
DILI,
East Timor
Telephone: 670-3325168, 3325169, 7231918

Public Security Police: 573333 (24 hours)

Identification Bureau: 370777 (office hours only)

Five people, including three Macau police officers, were arrested in connection with the robbery of an underground private bank in which MOP 4.6 million were taken away.

They were arrested respectively in Macau and Zhuhai, in a joint operation carried out by police in Macau and Guangdong.

Two suspects were from mainland China, who came to Macau as individual visitors.

The other three suspects joined the Macau Public Security Police in 1995, one of them was a member of staff of the Immigration Department.

Police recovered most of the money, but the whereabouts of about MOP 1 million is still unclear.

Nearly MOP 5 million was taken away in a robbery near the border with mainland China.

Two members of staff of a franchised VIP club of a casino, who went to an underground private bank to collect the money returned by a person from mainland China who lost when he gambled in Macau and owed the VIP club a total of MOP 4.65 million. The money was transferred to Macau from mainland China.

Five men who hid away beforehand dashed out and robbed them when they prepared the leave the building. Sources told Jornal Va Kio that the five people involved might be “insiders”, who had already took the money away from Macau via the Border Gate.

Police invited a woman for questioning, and uncovered a blood-stained water pipe at the scene.